LIVING WHILST BLACK
Is the latest Anti Racist Cumbria & Body Mind Soul collaboration.
We recognised the need for Black and Brown people simply to have a space where they could spend time together. The space is for anyone who is Black or Brown (even if you use a different term to self identify such as Person of Colour or Global Majority). When we use the term Black in the rest of this article we are referring to the term Politically Black. With its roots in the British trade union movement, political blackness is an umbrella term used to refer to all the people who are likely to experience racial discrimination based on skin colour. The group comes together once a month for 2 hours, sometimes in person but mostly online.
What’s the group for?
The Living Whilst Black (LWB) space is a trauma informed space supporting people to become better resourced to living whilst Black and is there for us to do what we want with it.
What do the sessions entail?
We spend the first hour with some healing and tending of the wounds with Rowan Carr our anti-racist embodiment coach.
The first half of the second hour is a space for Conscious Witnessing. This is where an individual may want to share something with the group. The support isn’t to respond and start a dialogue. Conscious Witnessing is simply letting the person share and the rest of us then silently holding the space for them. It’s incredibly powerful.
The last half hour is a time for us to just be our Black authentic selves. No tone policing, no code switching. Pure Black Joy and Love 🖤
When we’re not in our monthly Living Whilst Black space, we are still living whilst Black. So we have a WhatsApp group where we can all communicate and is there for anyone who needs to reach out for a chat or a laugh or anything. ARC and Rowan don’t see LWB as a place to post loads of links, debate the rights and wrongs of the world etc – there are other places we can do that. Instead, it’s a space where sometimes, only those living the Black experience will get it. Like the ‘where are you really from?’ question or feeling let down by your work colleagues who didn’t quite get it when you were upset about an anti-immigration protest happening in the community where you grew up. When issues like that happen they can be dropped in our WhatsApp group space. Sometimes we may not even need a reply, just that space to have that deep sigh which all of us understand without any need for further words 🖤
As we build and grow, LWB will take its own shape and form. Let’s see where it takes us.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I didn’t know how much I needed that. I always felt like I have to bring something extra or have a purpose to have the right to be in spaces. This was the first time I didn’t feel like that. Rowan you are amazing and your song and mantras have given me such comfort. Slow and patient, kind and gentle. Good night everyone and see you next time 😊
Do you have to be a member of ARC to join LWB?
No. Sometimes LWB is hard enough and joining ARC feels just that bit too much, but as a Black or Brown person you might want to feel Black or Brown presence in other ways. This space is open and we welcome those who want to be in it with us.
Not for you?
That’s ok. If you join the group and find it’s not for you it’s absolutely fine to leave. And if you find you want to come back, that’s also great.
When?
The sessions take place on the 10th of every month, and when you sign up you’ll receive all the details you need!
LWB – I’m in. What’s next?
If you’d like to join us:
PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM
and we’ll take it from there.
Let’s live whilst Black together 🖤
